Formula One world champion Max Verstappen said Mercedes did not fail as badly as his Red Bull team.
Verstappen claimed the title impressively at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out Lewis Hamilton on the final lap to win.
The circumstances surrounding the ending are controversial and Mercedes immediately objected to the outcome. That objection has been dismissed by the sport’s governing body the FIA, but Mercedes is still weighing whether to file an appeal and has until Thursday to do so.
“I think you should accept the loss, it doesn’t matter how,” Verstappen said Wednesday. “I think there’s a bit of a difference there between the teams.”
Verstappen says Mercedes can never take away the fact that he won the race and the championship on the track.
“I’m fine, because I don’t even think about it too much, because I feel like I’m world champion and it doesn’t matter what they tried to do. We won it in the right direction, we got it. won it when there was a green light, a green flag, and we got through them in the right direction.
“They’re never going to be able to take that away from me anyway, but as for the possible attraction or whatever, I’m not busy with that. As a team, that has its potential. It can be annoying but for us, we’re just enjoying the last few days.”
Ahead of the finale, Verstappen said his opinion of Hamilton and Mercedes had gone down throughout the season.
Asked how an appeal would further sour his opinion of the team, he added: “Well, no, that’s not surprising because the season is on like until the last race.
“My view won’t change, it’s pretty much the same.”
